This morning, we welcome back guest blogger Kate Marshall, who’s here with a seasonal subject: spring inks.

Okay, so for the past week or so, the weather in Philadelphia hasn’t been very spring-like. Just the other day, I had a scarf, hat, gloves, and coat — and I was still cold! But it is still spring around here, consarn it. To that end, I’ve had spring-like inks on the brain: pretty inks in shade of pastel blue, pink, and green to chase away the winter season-affective-disorder. This is just a very small sample of inks out there. But when the temperatures finally climb above 55 degrees Farenheit and the cold, bitter rain finally stops, it’s nice to break out a soft-hued ink for a letter, journal entry, or SuperFresh list.

J. Herbin Bleu Pervenche and Sailor Jentle Ink Yuku Akari (light blue): If you like turquoise-y colors, these inks are a good fit. Both are fun, cheery colors that pop, especially on white paper. Ironically, the Sailor ink is a special edition color that was introduced in winter 2009. We won’t hold that against it, though.

Sailor Jentle Green: a bright, clear green that’s reminiscent of new leaves or blades of grass (minus the hobbling allergies!).

J. Herbin Rose Cyclamen and Rose Tendresse: Rose Cyclamen is a vivid shock of pink while Rose Tendresse is its quieter, more subtle cousin. Both remind me of flowers — carnations, roses, etc.